WHITEHALL, MI -- Whitehall’s Tell Sutton has two goals for his senior season: to lead his team back to the Division 4 state finals and to finish his career undefeated at the GMAA City Tournament on Sept. 28.

“Our main goal as a team is to get to state,” Sutton said. “Last year, we didn’t make it, so we’re trying to redeem ourselves this year. It’d be really cool to go undefeated in the city tournament too. It’s going to be tough, but it would really mean a lot to me.”

Area tennis players to watch

• Tell Sutton, Whitehall: Entering his second
season at No. 1 singles, Sutton will need to rely on his forehand and his
ability to rally to reach the 100-win plateau, which coach Greg
McManus says is an attainable goal. Sutton finished last year 16-12, but many
of his matches are ones the senior would win this year if he played them again,
according to McManus.

• Sam Kling, Mona Shores: He's hungrier than ever
for his first city tournament title, according to coach Andrew DeBruyn. Kling has put in the time over the summer,
learning to be smarter and more consistent. Couple that with his big hitting,
and Kling could improve on his 24-7 mark from last year.

• Korey Searle, Grand Haven: Named to the OK Red
all-conference team last year, the four-year varsity player has been preparing
for his senior season since October, proving just how strong his work ethic is.
Searle faces a tough schedule, but according to coach Jeremy Case, if he sees
the court well and seizes his opportunities, Searle could have a 20-win season
ahead of him.

• Ryan Fedewa, Spring Lake: Fedewa is a smart
player who can work his opponents' weaknesses, according to first-year coach
Cathy Layson. Already a formidable competitor, Fedewa has improved on his
serves in the off-season, which will help Spring Lake in its bid to return to
state finals, where the team tied for 10th place in 2012.

• John Pugh, Ludington: Ludington graduated eight
seniors last year, allowing Pugh to move from No. 3 singles into the top slot
in the lineup. A 2012 regional champion, he'll be facing some stiff competition
this year throughout the area, but he's entering the season healthy, which is a
big advantage, according to coach Cliff Perez.

Whitehall qualified for the state tournament in 2010 and 2011, where Sutton advanced to the quarterfinals as a freshman and won his opening-round match as a sophomore at No. 2 singles.

To return to the tournament this season is an attainable goal for Sutton and the rest of the Whitehall team, but it’s going to be a battle.

“We have a young team,” Whitehall coach Greg McManus said. “We only have four upperclassmen, so we’re going to have a young core with a little bit of experience mixed in there. We’ll have a deep team, but we’ll have to fight in every game that we play.”

That won’t deter Sutton though.

“If we try our hardest and win as much as we can, we can make it back to state,” he said.

Sutton has amassed a 73-20 overall record as a four-year varsity player, including a 16-12 mark in his junior season, when he moved from No. 2 singles into the top slot in the singles lineup.

In order to prepare for his senior season, Sutton has worked on every aspect of his game.

“I’ve been hitting a lot of balls and trying to improve on everything. One of my jobs this summer was teaching kids, so I’m on the court a lot.”

He’s also been practicing with Mona Shores’ Sam Kling, who is most likely the one person standing between him and achieving his second goal.

Last year, Sutton claimed his third consecutive city title by defeating Kling in a tiebreaker, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5), at No. 1 singles. As an underclassman, Sutton also claimed a pair of city titles at No. 2 singles.

And though the season hasn’t even begun yet, it seems probable that Kling and Sutton will again meet in the finals at this year’s city tournament.

“I could definitely see that showdown happening again” Greg McManus said. “They are the top two players in the city, and they’re out to beat each other. When they’re on the court facing each other, they put the boxing gloves on.”

Kling’s coach Andrew DeBruyn agrees.

Whitehall's Tell Sutton returns a serve during his match against Mona Shores' Sam Kling for the #1 seed finals during the Boys City Tennis Tournament at Mona Shores High School on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.

“That’ll end up being the big match again this year,” DeBruyn said. “Tell got the best of Sam last year in three sets, but Sam wants to go out on a good note. They seem to always play each other in the big matches, but I’m sure the city tournament is the one that’s circled on both their calendars.”

It will be a challenge, but it’s one that Sutton looks forward to.

“It was a tough match last year, and it will be tough again this year,” he said. “We know each other’s style of play, which will make it more fun to see what happens in the tournament this year. We’re rivals in a good way. I know he’ll be my toughest opponent in the area.”